Choosing a Nursing Home

Selecting the Right Long-Term Care Home in Cleveland, Ohio

Making the choice to put a loved one in a long-term care home is difficult
and often painful, but it is often the best thing for an elderly person.
Given that the facility you choose is likely to take on the vast majority
of your loved one's care—everything from assisting with daily
activities such as eating and dressing to providing medical care including
physical therapy and check-ups—it is important that you carefully
research the nursing home and thoroughly investigate the facility you
choose. On this page, our Cleveland nursing home abuse attorneys at Spangenberg
Shibley & Liber offer advice to help you as you select the best nursing
home for your loved one.

Advice from Dedicated Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Here are some steps that can help ensure your loved one receives quality care.

First, determine the type of care your loved one requires, and locate facilities
that provide that type of care in your area:

Does your family member need assistance with the majority of the activities
of daily life, such as eating and dressing, and will he or she require
this assistance for the foreseeable future? If so, your loved one likely
requires long-term custodial care.

Is your loved one recovering from an illness or medical procedure, and
requires only short-term assistance during that recovery period? If so,
he or she likely requires only short-term recovery care.

Compare the quality of the facilities in your area:

Every year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services collect data
on more than 15,000 nursing homes throughout the country. They gather
health inspection data, staffing and other quality measures to produce
an overall ranking of one to five stars. This information is available
on the Medicare website. Be sure to compare the rankings of the facilities
you are considering.

Visit the facilities. Nothing can replace an in-person visit to the nursing
home you are considering. Be sure to visit more than once and at different
times of day. Ask to tour the facility on your own. Trust your five senses
and your instincts. Does the facility have an odor? Are the staff members
friendly and interacting with the residents? Are the rooms and common
areas clean and bright?

While you're at the facility, speak with the staff and the other patients.
Sometimes a casual conversation can reveal a lot about the facility, including
whether your loved one will be happy there.

Develop a list of questions and ask to speak to the director of the facility.

Call your ombudsman for more information. Every state has a federally funded
long-term care ombudsman who acts as an advocate for nursing home patients.
The ombudsman can tell you if there are state or local rankings available
in addition to the Medicare ratings. The ombudsman can also direct you
to the latest information regarding specific nursing homes, including
health inspection reports and complaints.

Once you choose a facility, here are a few more steps to help you protect
your loved ones:

Ask whether the facility requires you to sign an arbitration agreement.
An arbitration agreement will require you to resolve disputes with the
facility outside of court. They often limit your rights and remedies in
the event of a dispute or, worse yet, an injury to your loved one. In
many states, including Ohio, you cannot be forced to sign an arbitration
clause before being accepted into a nursing home. If a nursing home won't
accept your loved one without an arbitration agreement, you should look
elsewhere.

Execute a power of attorney for your loved one before he or she enters
the facility. In the event of an incident or injury, you need to have
a properly executed power of attorney to get quick access to medical records
and investigation reports. You don't want to have to jump through
these hoops while also trying to handle such a difficult and potentially
tragic situation as an injury.

Know your rights. You and your loved one have rights. They are set forth
in Ohio's Nursing Home Residents' Bill of Rights. Facilities are
required to provide you with a copy of the relevant provisions, and to
post a copy in the facility.

Keep the lines of communication open. Many problems can be addressed, or
avoided entirely, with open communication. Start with the understanding
that you, your loved one and the facility will maintain communication,
and then keep in touch. Nothing substitutes for communication to keep
the staff focused on providing top-level care.

Schedule a Consultation at Spangenberg if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect

We’re here for you if your loved one has been a victim. We encourage
you to call us as soon as possible for important information about your
rights. For more information about what to do if you suspect
nursing home abuse or
neglect, or to learn more about our nursing home abuse attorneys,
call Spangenberg Shibley & Liber today at (216) 600-0114 and arrange a free consultation with our knowledgeable team.

Cleveland Personal Injury Attorneys

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.